A new BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre is in the works, promising to be the most faithful yet.It is set to be a five-part series, written by playwright and screenwriter Miriam Battye, and produced by Working Title.Ms Battye shared insights into the project during a talk at the Brontë School Rooms on September 27.Ms Battye said: "It is going to be a limited series, but less limited than perhaps a film adaptation."Each episode will run for an hour, allowing more time to explore the novel’s characters and themes.Ms Battye said: "I give enough time to feel for every part of the book that you need to feel for and for the characters."Some of those are moments that I don't think have been adequately seen on screen."She described the BBC as "incredibly supportive, warm collaborators" and confirmed that she has written two of the five planned chapters so far.Ms Battye said: "The unique selling point of the upcoming drama was it was going to be one hundred percent faithful to the novel.""I want the adaptation to include a huge amount of Charlotte Bronte's dialogue."The writer revealed that she created the adaptation with actress Amy Lou Wood in mind.Ms Battye said: "There really wasn't another vision in my head."Amy is an actress of kind of quite staggering talent."Ms Battye reportedly approached her before anyone else was cast.She said: "I went to the BBC and I said, Amy is the pitch."Essentially, it is me and Amy."Ms Battye also addressed questions about whether there was any pressure to sexualise the adaptation, especially in light of Emerald Fennell’s recent version of Wuthering Heights.Answering, "No, there’s no pressure."I believe that sexuality is a part of the book."I've never felt pressured to make anything overt that isn't already there."The first episode will focus entirely on Jane’s childhood, which Ms Battye described as "almost a third of the book."She said: "The fist episode is going to be about a ten-year-old girl."It's actually not going to be about Amy Lou Wood's performance of it."She also intends to present a more nuanced view of Lowood School.Ms Battye said: "Occasionally in adaptations it's seen as just a place of privation and sort of horror."I’ll debate this, but I also think I'm so interested in the joy at Lowood School."The idea that it's the first place a young girl discovers the idea of a home."Ms Battye first read Jane Eyre at 15 [...] "There was a time when I was reading it every year so I’ve clocked in at least a good nine or ten readings." (Amelia Short)
Nearly two centuries after “Jane Eyre” first defied the conventions of Victorian England, China is requiring a new generation of teenagers to read her story.The British classic has long been popular in China and was already recommended reading for schoolchildren. But this fall, ninth-grade students across the country are being required to read the novel in full, according to Chinese state media. One report in an official newspaper held it up as an anti-materialistic love story that young people could learn from.The book, in which the young orphan Jane Eyre works as a governess in the household of the wealthy but elusive Mr. Rochester, is widely celebrated in China for its themes of independence and equality between women and men.A Chinese translation appeared as early as 1925, and there have since been numerous translations and adaptations for stage and screen. A British film adaptation was shown in Chinese theaters in 1979, just a few years after the end of the Cultural Revolution, as China was reopening to foreign culture.Ping Zhu, a literature professor at the University of California, San Diego, who researches Chinese feminism and literature, said the novel is compatible with the Chinese government’s vision of women’s equality — one that can coexist with traditional gender roles and the heterosexual nuclear family. Its inclusion in the ninth grade textbook comes as China struggles with population decline and the government encourages young people to marry and have children, she said.“‘Jane Eyre’ is about an independent woman, but she’s not too outrageous in her challenge of patriarchal power,” Ms. Zhu said. By the end of the novel, Jane has married Mr. Rochester and had a child. “All these things are what the Chinese government wants the younger generation to do,” Ms. Zhu said.Published in Britain in 1847, “Jane Eyre” was striking for its depiction of a poor young woman insisting on her independence, dignity and equality in a society in which women — particularly married women — had severely limited legal and economic autonomy.The novel has long been celebrated in China for its feminist themes, with state media often quoting Jane’s declaration to Mr. Rochester: “Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart!” (Yan Zhuang and Li You) (Read more)
The first two-thirds of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights features a region and its people stripped of confidence. But by the end, the fluttering moths on the quiet moors serve as a beautiful allegory for regional reclamation, as City of Culture did for Bradford. The imagination, creativity and ability to shapeshift is still here: it created the opportunity for industry and now creates a new culture-led renaissance. [...]Brontë Parsonage Museum is an interesting example of cultural infrastructure development: a tiny house at the top of Haworth village, known across the world. The Brontë Society had a long-held ambition for a presence closer to the heart of Haworth. Buoyed by their growing confidence as partners of Bradford 2025, delivering capital projects such as Changing Places toilets, access ramps and a partnership with Pa Gya! literary festival in Ghana, they bought three buildings in late 2025. This provides a unique and much needed additional space for their archives, exhibitions and team members – a visionary example of ensuring investment is used to enable a substantial future impact for the village and organisation. [...]Emily Brontë uses the metaphor of physical foundations, comparing an unyielding, eternal love for Heathcliff to “the eternal rocks beneath”. The businesses, the cultural sector, the communities, the audiences – all have fed into and created this solid foundation. It’s essential to build on that and recognise the transformation that they bought into. Wuthering Heights is a blueprint for regional renaissance; even when a place looks empty, dark or aggressively stereotyped by the outside world, the real investment is the one the community makes in itself.
The garden takes its inspiration from the exposed landscapes of the Yorkshire uplands: dry-stone walls, moorland planting and the way plants and wildlife respond to sometimes unforgiving conditions. [...]Mr Roberts, founder of Patterned Earth, a garden and landscape design practice in Netherton, said: “I wanted to take a little piece of the landscape I know and love in Yorkshire to Belvoir."The moors, dry-stone walls and plants that somehow thrive in quite unforgiving conditions have always fascinated me.“Weathering Heights was a playful nod to Wuthering Heights, of course, but the ‘weathering’ was important too."The garden was really about how landscapes, plants and wildlife respond and adapt to the conditions around them.” (Steve Teale)
Catherine Earnshaw From Wuthering HeightsIf you want a costume that is actually pretty and makes you look like you stepped directly out of a dramatic period film, Catherine Earnshaw is calling your name. Think flowing dresses, romantic hair, moody makeup, and enough Victorian drama to make everyone wonder whether you’re about to run across a windswept field screaming someone’s name. It’s especially fun if your friend dresses as Heathcliff. Just remember: the more dramatic your photos are, the better. A normal smiling selfie simply will not do. (Danielle Okogho)
Este pasado cuando, como todos los años, visité con mis viajeras de las rutas literarias que organizo Haworth, la casa de las hermanas Brontë estaba llena. Coincidía que un festival de literatura femenina se celebraba a escasos metros, en las instalaciones en las que Charlotte Brontë hubiera deseado abrir una escuela. Por eso o por el día soleado, había visitantes que se detenían ante la mesa de la cocina, la cama en la que murió su hermano Branwell, sus recuerdos, como si los objetos conservaran todavía una parte de la energía de quienes los tocaron; algunas lectoras se conocían de memoria episodios de Jane Eyre o de Cumbres borrascosas, (como siempre, Anne es la gran ausente en esta casa) y personas que habían viajado hasta Yorkshire porque querían ver dónde había vivido aquellas mujeres, dónde habían subido aquellas escaleras custodiadas por un reloj de abuelo y dónde habían escrito allí algunos de los libros que formna parte del patrimonio sentimental de generaciones enteras.La posteridad puede ser muy generosa con las escritoras, aunque no sea más que para compensar con lo cruel de sus vidas. Lo sabemos todas, Charlotte, Emily y Anne Brontë publicaron primero como Currer, Ellis y Acton Bell, nombres ambiguos en un mundo que, si bien acababa por aceptarlas, si eran exitosas, desconfiaban de una mujer con ambición literaria. Dos siglos después, pagamos una entrada para visitar su casa, examinamos sus diminutos manuscritos, reconstruimos sus horarios y costumbres, admiramos su coraje, escogemos una preferida y convertimos en santuario aquello que, mientras ellas vivían, no eran sino cuatro paredes opresivas. (Translation)
Thursday 1 October 2026, 18:30 -20:00The Bookshop on the Square, 28 Market Pl, Otley LS21 3AQ, UKJoin us at The Bookshop On The Square with best-selling authors and academics Dr Michael Stewart and Dr Claire O'Callaghan as they discuss and dismantle the lives, writings and myths of the Brontë sisters. Expect intriguing discussions, new insights and a celebration of the passionate and bold writings and lives of these literary sisters.About the authorsDr Claire O’Callaghan’s Emily Brontë Reappraised (Saraband Books) brings new insight into how we read and remember one of literature’s most enigmatic writers. It has just been re-published in a new expanded form. Dr Michael Stewart is the multi-award-winning author of nine books, including, Walking the Invisible: Following in the Footsteps of the Brontës, and Ill Will: The Untold Story of Heathcliff. He is also the curator of the Brontë Stones and the director of the Brontë Writing Centre.
Whereas other classic period literary works have been re-adapted and changed to either fit modern settings at the time (Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, Bridget Jones’s Diary) or have the filmmaker’s own vision cast over the source material causing fan uproar (most recently with this year’s Wuthering Heights), this very much is a traditional period drama in the vein of the aforementioned Austen adaptations I mentioned up top. (Jack Ransom)
Two other movie adaptions are for me the clear template for this film. Firstly, 1999’s The Winslow Boy, a Terence Rattigan play adapted and directed by David Mamet of all people, which on the surface is about a miscarriage of justice against a schoolboy, but is actually about how his older sister chooses which of her three suitors to marry. In the USA it was also rated G, which remains possibly the most surprising thing Mr. Mamet has done in his career. The other is 2011’s Wuthering Heights, Andrea Arnold’s unhappy adaption of the famously melodramatic novel by Emily Brontë. Largely filmed outdoors, with a great feeling for the weather, it has a rawness and sense of danger that remains palpable fifteen years later. It’s clear that Ms. Oakley decided, possibly because of these two films, to push her heroines onto rocks and hillsides to make it as easy for us to connect to their raw emotion, and that those emotions would be expressed in language to which even the littlest ears can listen. (Sarah Manvel)
On the 2026 VMAs red carpet, things took a darker turn. A Victorian gothic flavour hit the carpet, with Charli XCX, in a midriff-baring bandeau and skirt ensemble by Saint Laurent, leading the charge.Call it a hangover from Margot Robbie’s Wuthering Heights press tour looks, but outfits that took their cues from the neo-Victorian aesthetic peppered the carpet. Black and lace appeared in equal measure, as did sumptuous materials like velvet and a generally witchy vibe. (Noni Reginato)
A young woman embarks on an unexpected journey. Despite the excitement and possibilities of her future, there’s also fear. She boards a train that will take her to a new home atop a stormy cliff at the edge of the sea, a place defined by the fog and its history. She’s a governess, and she’ll be responsible for teaching and caring for a wealthy boy.This premise might sound like it’s from a classic Gothic story like Jane Eyre or The Turn of the Screw. But it’s actually from 1991’s Dark Shadows: The Revival, an NBC series that distilled the long-running original Dark Shadows soap opera into a 12-episode melodrama. It’s the best way to enter the world created by horror icon Dan Curtis, and it’s streaming in full on YouTube. (Maria Loreto)
Festival ActoralFrac Sud – Cité de l’art contemporain, Marseille29 sept. - 18h00Romance hantée par ses propres personnages, Hurlevent carcasse est un récit choral, qui amplifie le livre d’Emily Brontë pour faire retentir sa puissante modernité.Ouvrage majeur de la littérature du XIXe siècle, écrit sous pseudonyme masculin, Les Hauts de Hurvelent s’est imposé comme texte canonique sur la passion amoureuse, la vengeance et la folie, un roman furieux et cruel. Claudine Galea plonge dans cette matière, entrelace des voix dans un corps-à-corps effréné et aiguise à l’os le récit d’amour fusionnel et de haine fatale. Explorant toutes les formes de domination à l’œuvre, elle révèle le fondement colonial de cette histoire de passion, de mépris de classe et de haine de soi, au sein d’une société victorienne en pleine expansion capitaliste.Hurlevent carcasse a paru en février 2026 aux Éditions de L’Arche.
‘Jane Eyre’“How about some Charlotte Brontë?” It’s no secret that Rory is a big fan of Charlotte Brontë, as showcased in several episodes of the series, and one of her preferred books is Jane Eyre. Rory frequently mentions the author and the 1847 novel is the perfect comforting read for fall. The author is discussed in a Season 1 episode when Dean asks how he can repay her for bringing him cookies and she responds by asking him to read Brontë. While she doesn’t specifically mention Jane Eyre, it is later seen in the spinoff series, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life and it should be on your fall TBR (to be read list). (Julianne MacNeill)
Jane Eyre // Charlotte BrontëCharlotte Brontë’s classic tale of romance, long-buried secrets, and one headstrong woman’s coming-of-age odyssey is steeped in both Gothic atmosphere and biting social commentary. It tells the story of a headstrong young woman’s journey from an orphanage to a governess post at Thornfield Hall, the domain of the mysterious Mr. Rochester. While the book has a reputation as a romance, in truth it is more of a dark look at the social expectations and struggles that characterized Victorian England. With its sprawling country houses, rainy weather, hidden rooms, and themes of growth, decay, and transformation, it’s a classic autumn read for a reason. (Eden Gordon)
Cumbres Borrascosas by Emily BrontëLos protagonistas están unidos por un amor intenso y complicado que queda marcado por los celos, el orgullo, las diferencias sociales y el resentimiento, y cuando Catherine decide casarse con otro hombre, Heathcliff se marcha y, años después, regresa dispuesto a vengarse. 'Cumbres borrascosas' es un perfecto libro para leer este otoño. (Melissa González) (Translation)
Seed Cake, Jane EyreIn Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, a small seed cake and tea become a memorable moment of comfort for Jane during her difficult years at Lowood. The modest treat stands in contrast to the hunger and poor food associated with the school, making the simple act of sharing food especially meaningful. (Aanya Mehta)
Most of us have already (thankfully) forgotten about the BDSM atrocity that besieged us in February in the form of “Wuthering Heights,” and while Nolan’s “Odyssey” was a decent standalone film, it did little justice (at least in my view) to Homer’s original creation. (Liza Libes)
“Una historia de amor y venganza”, se anunció a finales de septiembre de 2024. Cumbres borrascosas es un clásico de la literatura, una de las obras maestras de Emily Brontë. Y eso puede ser bueno o no tanto, pues todos los ojos estarán puestos sobre una historia de sobra conocida por todos. ¿Y sobre qué trata esto? A saber: la tempestuosa Catherine Earnshaw y el vengativo Heathcliff viven un romance apasionado mientras conviven en un lugar conocido como el título de todo esto, Cumbres borrascosas. Y, bueno, en el libro ese amor nunca pasaba de una mera obsesión. Y hay a quien no le ha gustado nada esta película, pero otros la consideran una obra maestra. (Alberto Sisí Sánchez) (Translation)
Avec Emerald Fennell, rien n’est sage ni subtil. Costumes majestueux, décors fantasmagoriques, brume, crachin et tempêtes sur la lande anglaise : le film impose une esthétique grandiloquente, parfois à la limite du grotesque. La réalisatrice insuffle à l’ensemble un ton très pop, étonnamment drôle par moments. Sensuel, excessif, filmé avec un point de vue féminin assumé, Hurlevent divisera forcément. Cette relecture courageuse et moderne conserve pourtant toute la violence du roman. Emily Brontë aurait adoré ! (Hélène Lisle) (Translation)
Elle (France) lists several alternative Wuthering Heights adaptations.
Verbotene Liebe, Ausgrenzung, Rassismus – Emily Brontës Weltklassiker „Sturmhöhe“ steckt voller Themen von hoher Aktualität. Eindrucksvoll zeigt das Franz-Joseph Diekens Inszenierung am Altonaer Theater.Im Zentrum steht die obsessive Liebe zwischen Catherine (Linda Stockfleth) und Heathcliff (Celio-Silvestre Tamele) – eine toxische Beziehung, zerstörerisch wie eine Naturgewalt. Obwohl Linda Stockfleth ihre unberechenbare Catherine allzu schrill und einförmig hysterisch anlegt, überzeugt das Zusammenspiel des Ensembles. (Brigitte Scholz) (Translation)
For the final episode of series 4, Sam and Mia are joined by historian, author and content creator Dr Rebecca Marks! Rebecca holds a Master's in Art History and a PhD in English Romantic Literature. She’s currently writing a book on Gothic art and literature with Penguin, which will be released at the end of 2027.What came before Thornfield Hall and Wuthering Heights? We hope you're in the mood for ghosts and goblins as we dive into what makes a Gothic novel, writers who may have inspired the Brontës and why Patrick had the equivilent of movie posters on his wall...
by Emily BrontëBritish Library PublishingISBN: 9780712369015September 17, 2026Wuthering Heights First Edition Facsimile (1847) in a two-volume edition, with Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell (1846)Step into the wild, windswept world of the Yorkshire moors with this exquisite first edition facsimile of Wuthering Heights, faithfully reproduced from the British Library’s original 1847 copy of Emily Brontë’s enduring masterpiece.Published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, Wuthering Heights is one of the most powerful and unconventional novels in English literature — a haunting tale of passion, obsession and revenge that has captivated readers for nearly two centuries. This sumptuous facsimile captures the novel as it was first presented to Victorian readers, preserving the typography, layout and character of the historic two-volume edition.Housed in a luxurious foiled cloth-bound clamshell presentation box, this collector’s set brings together:
- A two-volume first edition facsimile of Wuthering Heights (1847), with covers typical of the era
- A first edition facsimile of Emily Brontë’s own copy of Poems (1846), the ground-breaking poetry collection she published alongside her sisters Charlotte and Anne, prior to the success of Wuthering Heights, reproduced with handwritten notes and signed and dated by her on the title page. Emily’s copy was rebound by a later owner and bears the date of 1864 on the spine. As this edition is intended to be a faithful facsimile, we have reproduced the book exactly as it survives today, including this historical peculiarity.
- Facsimile looseleaf pages from Emily’s two manuscript poetry notebooks (also held in the Library collections) that show earlier versions of a couple of poems that appear in Poems.
- The set is completed with an introductory booklet by two lead curators at the British Library.
Brontë fans will now be able to own facsimile first editions of the two creative works Emily published during her short life – in effect her complete works – presented together in a gorgeous box with gold foil details. Each element has been created directly from the originals held in the British Library’s collections, ensuring exceptional fidelity to the source material.An essential acquisition for Brontë enthusiasts, collectors of classic literature, scholars, and lovers of fine bookmaking, this facsimile set is as striking on the shelf as it is moving to read.
Nestled within the Yorkshire countryside, Haworth was the former residence of the Brontë sisters: Charlotte, Emily and Anne, whose surrounding moorlands provided inspiration for Emily's novel Wuthering Heights. Their ancestral home has been converted into a museum, cementing Haworth's status as an essential stop for enthusiasts of English literature. (Christopher Megrath)
4. HathersageHathersage has strong literary connections - having inspired Charlotte Brontë while she was writing Jane Eyre. The nearby North Lees Hall (pictured here) also became the main inspiration for Thornfield Hall. (Tom Hardwick)
Where did this book even come from? “The novel started out as my thesis during my MFA at Cornell,” the author explains. “I had this idea of a girl and her brother, this sibling relationship, which is at the heart of the novel. The dynamics of this family and the relationship between the siblings, and the roots of all of that, was also something I was interested in very early on. I read Jane Eyre for the first time in graduate school (late, I know!) and soon after that I read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, and I was mind-blown. The Gothic as a vehicle for the story of this family started to appeal to me early on, this picture of a house that’s no longer able to hold its secrets, and the novel grew from there.“Jane Eyre and Rebecca both play with things that are revealed and the things that are kept hidden, both from the characters and from the reader. I was also very fascinated by black Gothic, with books like Toni Morrison’s Beloved and Octavia Butler’s Kindred, and a lot of Buchi Emecheta’s work, like Second Class Citizen, which plays with the idea of not just physical confinement but psychological confinement within systems. Add to that the burden of innocence on a character when human beings and circumstances conspire to paint you guilty or deprive you of a voice.” (Neil Nyren)
Swift subverts the classic "scorned woman" trope by recounting these wrongs, not with vengeful rage, but with calm, chilling clarity. "When the fever turns a dreamer into a pathetic ghost / If he's killing you, I see you, I was patient zero," she sings in the song's final lines.She's like Bertha Mason in the attic, warning Jane Eyre of Mr. Rochester's evil, or Rebecca, hovering like a wraith over her murderous husband's estate; she's the woman who haunts the narrative long after she's gone. (Callie Ahlgrim)
A Mercury Theatre Colchester, Rose Theatre & Storyhouse co-production, in association with Northern Stage and supported by a grant from The Royal Theatrical Support TrustJane EyreAdapted by Sally Cookson, Mike Akers and the original Company.Directed by Lily DibleWith Oscar Adams, Gabriel AkuwudikeMercury Theatre, Colchester26 September to 10 OctoberRose Theatre, Kigston upon Thames13 October to 20 OctoberNorthern Stage, Newcastle3 to 7 NovemberStoryhouse, Chester10 to 21 November“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me.”One woman’s fight for a life that is worthy of her courage, and a love that is worthy of her heart.Orphaned as a young girl, the passionate and sensitive Jane longs to escape the clutches of her cruel aunt.Freedom beckons when she is offered the job of a governess in the house of the brooding and secretive Mr Rochester.As intrigue turns to attraction, Jane finds herself drawn in by Rochester’s mercurial charm. But when the truth finally comes out, she will be forced to choose between the man she wants, and the woman she wants to be.Nearly two centuries on, Charlotte Brontë’s groundbreaking story is as thrilling and relevant as ever in this bold production directed by 2025 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award-winner Lily Dyble, based on Sally Cookson, Mike Akers and the original company’s trailblazing adaptation.
26 September - 21 NovemberRugby Art Gallery and Museum, Little Elborow Street, Rugby, CV21 3BZExplore the extraordinary imagination of one of the great artists, printmakers and storytellers of our time. Paula Rego: Visions of English Literature will present three of the artist’s most ambitious series of graphic works; Jane Eyre, Nursery Rhymes and Peter Pan. Each series will be accompanied by a variety of personal items from the artist, many of which have never been publicly displayed before. Unseen preparatory sketches, etching plates and Rego’s very own childhood copy of Peter Pan will offer audiences an intimate portrayal of the artist’s lifelong fascination with literature and an insight into how the artist transformed this material into startlingly original, rebellious and unexpected images.
Keighley Library, West Yorks, BD213SXSaturday 26th September 2026, 11pm, 12.30pm, 2.00pmJoin Charlotte Brontë on a phonic field trip over the Yorkshire Moors and listen in to the sounds that shaped the Brontë sisters’ lives. The howling winds at Top Withens, tranquil trickling of nearby waterfalls and the angelic tones of… Beyoncé will accompany you on your journey. Senseless Trash from beginning to end - don’t say I didn’t warn you.Oh, and keep your wits about you, for there are beasts on those moors…'Charlotte Brontë: Senseless Trash' is a 30 minute theatre show using silent disco headphones. This show explores the modern day struggles of identity and motherhood through the lens of Charlotte Brontë’s inspiring life and work. This show is performed for the very first time within a library after touring at venues and festivals around the country.
Further information in The Telegraph & Argus.
The Old School Room in Haworth, whose original section was constructed in 1832 by the Rev. Patrick Brontë, has had five windows on its north-facing wall replaced as part of essential restoration work.Averil Kenyon, chairman of The Brontë Spirit, the charity that maintains the building, said: "The south wall windows were replaced back in 2012, and it has taken us 14 years to raise sufficient funds to undertake the restoration of the north-facing windows."We’re delighted with the result because the new windows have been designed to match the style of the windows that were originally part of the building."The project cost £24,000 and was supported by grants from the Bernard Sunley Foundation and The Pilgrim Trust. (Harry Williams)
A powerful new stage adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's classic Jane Eyre arrives at Storyhouse this autumn.Directed by Lily Dyble, Jane Eyre will run at the Chester venue from Tuesday 10 November to Saturday 21 November. [...]"Charlotte Brontë's revolutionary masterpiece Jane Eyre remains as potent today as it did when it was written in 1847, said Storyhouse creative director Suzie Henderson."This dynamic and imaginative new stage adaptation promises to present it in visceral and powerful fashion."I'm delighted to be able to reveal such an exciting cast of talented actors who are working with Lily Dyble in the rehearsal room to bring her thrilling storytelling vision to life for our audiences here at Chester."The role of Jane will be played by Olivia Marcus, while Gabriel Akuwudike will appear as Edward Rochester. The cast also includes Oscar Adams, Aamira Challenger, Millie Faraway, Andrea Gatchalian, Kate Kordel, Robyn Rose-Li and Leo Wan.Jane Eyre is a Storyhouse, Mercury Theatre Colchester, and Rose Theatre co-production, in association with Northern Stage, supported by a grant from the Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST).The production is based on Sally Cookson, Mike Akers and the original company's acclaimed adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's groundbreaking novel.Set designer is Anna Yates, costume designer is Khadija Raza, lighting design is by Lucia Sanches Roldan, and Joseff Harris is sound designer and composer. Movement director is Natasha Harrison, Fight director is Rachid Sabitri and intimacy director is Haruka Kuroda. Casting is by Helena Palmer. (Dherran Titherington)
The 135-minute show is punctuated by eight musical numbers and, though it is now almost obligatory for classic literature to be sung and danced (the most recent victim Jane Eyre), this is a logical candidate. (Mark Lawson)
Things are moody and at times almost Brontë-esque thanks to Arnaud Potier’s autumnal cinematography and the rolling, rain-lashed hills. (Hannah Pettit)
Aïllada al poble diminut de les muntanyes pirinenques on ella i en Sebastià van anar a raure, en bona part perquè era el lloc on vivia un amic comú —que a l’inici de la novel·la es converteix en la nova parella de la protagonista—, la Jara sembla una reencarnació del Heathcliff de Cims borrascosos (una de les citacions que encapçalen la novel·la és d’Emily Brontë), com si perseguint-lo i invocant-lo en tot moment tingués també la prerrogativa de fer-lo present: inquieta i nerviosa, el busca pels paisatges que recorrien o al riu on es banyaven, acariciant els guants de llana que li havia regalat, o en les tres ratlles horitzontals —“una de ben recta que separa el cel gris clar del mar gris fosc, i una de desdibuixada que separa el mar gris fosc del prat mig gris”— de la fotografia que hi ha penjada al menjador. (Ponç Puigdevall) (Translation)
Fri 25 Sept, 6:00pmOld School RoomCelebrate the opening of the Brontë Women’s Writing Festival 2026 with us! The festival will begin with a special reading from poet Emma Conally-Barklem, before we welcome to the stage screenwriter and director Sally Wainwright.2026 marks 10 years since the release of Sally Wainwright’s Brontë biopic, To Walk Invisible. The BBC film marked Sally's first venture into historical drama, beginning in 1845 with the sisters' journey to publication, to Branwell Brontë's death in 1848. Her screenplay is infused with quotes taken directly from letters or diary entries by the Brontës, which gave authenticity to the dialogue.Since then, she has seen success with dramas such as Gentleman Jack, Riot Women, Renegade Nell and the concluding chapter of Happy Valley. This evening we will look back at her career highlights and, of course, delve into the making of ‘To Walk Invisible’
Sat 26 Sept, 10:30amOld School RoomDo you have a taste for eerie moorland mansions and dark, mysterious secrets?If so, then this delightfully gothic panel with authors Essie Fox, Heba Al-Wasity and Stephanie Bramwell Lawes will help you discover more about creating the perfect gothic novel...“Now, eighteen years later, Catherine rises from her grave to tell her story – and seek redemption.” Essie Fox is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her latest novel, Catherine: A retelling of Wuthering Heights, reimagines Emily Brontë's fictional world and tells the famous story from Catherine Earnshaw's point of view. Essie was born and raised in Herefordshire. After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London and began a career in magazine and book publishing – before becoming self-employed in commercial art design. Always an avid reader, she now writes historical novels. She also hosts a podcast called Talking the Gothic.“All paths lead to Weavingshaw, a cursed estate on the moors.” Heba Al-Wasity’s debut novel Weavingshaw is a Sunday Times bestseller. This gothic fantasy novel envelops its reader into an atmospheric world, with ghostly encounters and a dark mystery to unfold. Heba Al-Wasity was inspired to write by her own experiences of being born an Iraqi refugee in Libya, growing up in Canada, and attending medical school in the UK. Working as a junior doctor in emergency care and several psychiatric inpatient units, Heba gained first-hand insight into how poverty and deprivation can lead to social inequalities. She is based in Greater Manchester.“There – suddenly – was Thornby Manor. I would never forget the first time I saw it…a talisman of Darkness. An emblem of death.” Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes' debut novel Thornby Manor was inspired by her love of the Brontës and Daphne Du Maurier literary works. Stephanie lures the reader into the great house that “looms above a mist-shrouded lake, its corridors heavy with secrets.” Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes grew up in the historic city of Bath and studied History and Ancient History at Exeter University. A lifelong love of literature led to a career in publishing in 2009, and her passion for books has only continued to grow ever since. Her favourite novels include Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Rebecca, and anything by Tracy Chevalier. She currently lives in Warwickshire.
Sat 26 Sept, 12:30pmOld School RoomJoin us as we welcome author Dr Sharon Blackie to the festival stage for a discussion about her work and her latest book Ripening.Dr. Sharon Blackie is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author, speaker and teacher. As a psychologist and mythologist, the transformative power of story has been at the heart of her work for decades, and she is a recognised pioneer in reclaiming women’s stories. As well as writing seven books of fiction and nonfiction, including the bestselling If Women Rose Rooted and Hagitude, her work has frequently appeared on the BBC and in international media outlets. Sharon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an Honorary Member of the UK Association of Jungian Analysts, and has taught and lectured at many academic institutions and cultural festivals around the world. Her much-loved publication The Art of Enchantment is a global Substack Bestseller.
Sat 26 Sept, 2:30pmOld School RoomWe will be travelling back in time with authors Liz Flanagan and Anna Caig, as they shed light on how they recreated worlds from the past in their latest novels...Liz Flanagan is an award-winning author from Hebden Bridge. When We Were Divided is her first historical novel for adults. Although her previous books are for children, all her novels combine vivid landscapes and emotional depth with fast-paced, gripping stories. She teaches Creative Writing in many different settings, has worked as a book editor and as Centre Director for Arvon, at Ted Hughes’s former home, Lumb Bank.Anna Caig is obsessed with the hidden voices of women and a compelling underdog story. Luckily, history offers plenty of these. She’s inspired by the glimpses into a woman’s life we get before the historical record moves onto something considered much more important. What was happening in these gaps? Anna grew up one of three sisters in the wilds of West Yorkshire, scribbling novels into notebooks - and Wuthering Heights is her favourite book. She now lives in the ‘howling wilderness’ of the Peak District. Her debut novel, The Wise Witch of Orkney, was inspired by her love of the northern isles of Scotland, folklore, and passion for depicting women in their midlife and beyond, continuing to live rich, adventurous lives.
Sat 26 Sept, 4:00pmOld School RoomFollowing the success of the Wandering Imaginations project in 2025, we're continuing our literary partnership with Bradford Culture Company and Writers Project of Ghana. Literary Sisters: Accra to Bradford features writers Barsa Ray and Tabitha Bast from Bradford, and Emma Ofosua and Priscilla Adipa from Accra, as they share new work developed as part of this international writers exchange.The project is supported by the British Council and features a companion event at Pa Gya! Festival in Accra, Ghana, in October.
Sat 26 Sept, 5:30pmOld School RoomWe're closing a wonderful day of events with an evening of poetry by Emma Conally-Barklem. Emma’s latest collection, The High Flight: 50 Poems Inspired by Emily Brontë's Hawk, was released earlier this year and had its book launch at the Brontë Parsonage Museum. This collection takes its creative inspiration from one of the few details known about Emily Brontë. It is believed she rescued then kept a Merlin hawk who she called Nero. Conally-Barklem explores what it means to be captive and to be wild, the condition of the falconer, its lore and mystery through the enigmatic Brontë sister who stands both inside and outside of time.Emma is an author, poet and yoga teacher based in Yorkshire. She is the author of four collections. Her first collection The Ridings was curated into an exhibition in her hometown, Bradford. Hymns from the Sisters was written after a residency at the Brontë Parsonage Museum. She was a core poet for the BBC’s Contains Strong Language Poetry Festival Bradford 2025 and was a guest of Radio 4’s Front Row, where she talked about the Brontës.
Sun 27 Sept, 10:30amOld School RoomWe are delighted to welcome screenwriter and playwright Miriam Battye to the Brontë Women's Writing Festival! Miriam is currently working on a new adaptation of Jane Eyre with Working Title, starring Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education, The White Lotus). She was the first writer-in-residence at Sister Pictures and is the recipient of the 2020 Harold Pinter Commission.Miriam Battye's plays include Strategic Love Play, Scenes with Girls, and The Virgins (starring Ella Bruccoleri), which was released in early 2026. Her plays have been published by Faber. Miriam's screenwriting credits include Dead Ringers, Woman in the Wall and Succession, which earned her a WGA award. Her feature film debut, Extra Geography, is out this year.
Sun 27 Sept, 12:30pmOld School RoomIn Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre, Mr Rochester marries the daughter of a West India planter and merchant in Spanish Town, Jamaica, for a large sum of £30,000...To coincide with our 2026 exhibition The Colonial Brontës, we're hosting an insightful conversation with historian Miranda Kaufmann. Her latest book, Heiresses: Marriage, Inheritance and Caribbean Slavery (2025), follows the lives of nine heiresses, tracing their tainted money from its origins in the sugar plantations of the Caribbean. Kaufmann reveals a murky world of inheritance, fortune-hunting and human exploitation.Dr. Miranda Kaufmann is the author of the Wolfson History Prize and Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize-shortlisted book Black Tudors: The Untold Story (2017). She read History at Christ Church, Oxford and is now an Honorary Fellow of the University of Liverpool, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Royal Society of Arts, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London, where she co-convened the What's Happening in Black British History? workshop series from 2014 to 2022. Miranda also served as Lead Historian for the Colonial Countryside project with National Trust houses from 2019 to 2021; and has taken her work into schools with her Teaching Black Tudors project and to the world with her Black Tudors: The Untold Story course with FutureLearn.
Sun 27 Sept, 2:00pmOld School RoomFind out how authors Wendy Pratt and Nic Wilson have approached memoir writing, and how nature and landscape helped them navigate challenging times through their lives.Wendy Pratt is an author, poet and editor. She writes about nature as refuge, and how belonging to landscape gives you a place to connect to your ancestors, even if those ancestors are only joined to you through the land you walk on. The Ghost Lake was published by The Borough Press in 2024. Her latest collection of poetry, Blackbird Singing at Dusk was released in 2024, previous collection, When I Think of My Body as a Horse, won the Poetry Business International Book and Pamphlet Competition 2020.Nic is a writer, editor, Guardian country diarist and author of the nature memoir Land Beneath the Waves, one of BBC Wildlife Magazine's Best Nature Books of 2025. She works for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, specialising in wildlife, wild plants and environmental issues. Nic has nearly 30 years’ writing experience spanning academia, education, journalism and narrative non-fiction.
Sun 27 Sept, 3:30pmBrontë Event Space in the Old School RoomThe Brontës were renowned for their powerful portrayal of moorland, which for centuries had been dismissed as bleak, empty places. Yet, with their blanket bogs, folklore, and habitats, they are some of our most fascinating and vital landscapes.In this friendly 120-minute writing workshop led by authors Clare Shaw (Bloodaxe) and Anna Chilvers (Bluemoose), we’ll read classic and contemporary literature about moors and the unique plants and creatures who live on them - and we’ll write our own stories and poetry in response. Finally, we’ll acknowledge some of the threats facing moors - and together we’ll explore how we can protect them. From experts to first-time writers, everyone is welcome!Anna Chilvers (Bluemoose) and Clare Shaw (Bloodaxe) are popular writers and facilitators who have authored and edited 14 books between them - including novels, poetry and creative non-fiction. In 2025, they co-edited The Book of Bogs (Little Toller) featuring over 40 leading writers of ecology, nature and place. Anna and Clare facilitate Bogwise: a series of bog-themed writing workshops, residentials and reading events. They are also the co-authors of b(l)og, the popular bog-themed substack!
Mon 28 Sept, 7:00pmOnline via zoomThis September, the British Library is releasing a very special edition of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.The Wuthering Heights presentation box contains facsimile volumes of the first edition of the novel and Emily’s personal copy of Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell, together with copies of pages from her two manuscript poetry notebooks. Each element has been created directly from the originals held in the British Library’s collections, ensuring exceptional fidelity to the source material. The covers are carefully modelled on bindings from the period, evoking the look and feel of these mid-nineteenth-century literary treasures.We will be joined by Alison Moss from the publishing team, and curators Maddy Smith and Catherine Angerson at the British Library to discuss the process and development of their upcoming publication.
Tue 29 Sept, 7:30pmOnline via zoom'Something is happening at Westerley. Things where they shouldn't be. The shadow of a maid sweeping in the dawn light. But is the house really haunted?'Tune in for a special Festival online event with author Lauren Mooney. Lauren’s debut novel Service was inspired by her six years working as a personal assistant. The novel follows Danielle. She's broke, hates her job as PA to the blithely privileged Jeannie, and now a break-up has left her with nowhere to live. It comes as a surprise when Jeannie suggests that Danielle stay at Westerley, the sprawling Yorkshire estate where she grew up. They need someone to look after the place anyway.Lauren Mooney is a writer from the East Midlands. She works in theatre and audio drama, and has co-run Kandinsky Theatre Company since 2015, making award-winning shows across the UK and Europe. She is a graduate of UEA's Creative Writing Prose MA, where she held the David Higham Scholarship. She lives in East Sussex with her husband Stewart and their tortoise, Sacher Tort.
Wildflower Wildfore presentsFriargate Theatre, Lower Friargate, York, YO1 9SLSeptember 25, 18:30 to 22:00Poster artwork by Laura Crow. Calligraphy by Emily Hansen, Leaf on LettersThis original immersive theatre event blends storytelling, performance and botanical drinks in a journey through the seasons alongside Charlotte, Anne, Emily and Branwell Brontë, exploring their lives, relationships and literary legacy.“Across the performance, audiences will be served four specially created botanical cocktails, each inspired by a different season and member of the Brontë family, from the bright florals of Elastic Springs to the bittersweet Last Winter Rose,” says event creator Xandra Logan, York actress, writer and producer – and barrister to boot – who has moved into theatre development to make this 90-minute piece for this autumn’s York Food and Drink Festival.“Expect literature, atmosphere, storytelling and a little theatrical magic as the world of the Brontës is brought to life around you. No prior knowledge of the Brontës needed.”Incorporating bespoke cocktails as part of the package, “there will be both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options to suit audience preference”.The cast comprises Vicki Glover as Charlotte Brontë; Xandra Logan as Emily Brontë; Leah Paige as Anne Brontë; Katie Leckey as Branwell Brontë; Adam Marsdin as Patrick Brontë; Miles John as Arthur Bell Nicholls; Laura Haynes Bury as Martha Brown and Molly Meleady-Hanley as The Phantom.“The production is an ensemble piece and the characters all make up an important part of the Brontë story,” says Xandra. “The actors are largely based in this region or derived from here. The production is an ensemble piece and the characters all make up an important part of the Brontë story.”Drawing on her Yorkshire roots, Xandra is “delighted to portray Emily and explore her fierce imagination, independence and connection to the landscape that shaped her work.” (...)West Yorkshire actress Leah Paige, who has experience across stage and screen, will play Anne. “Passionate about bringing overlooked stories to life, I’m thrilled to portray the often-underestimated Anne Brontë, celebrating her quiet strength, kindness and unwavering principles,” says Leah, who will make her feature debut on Amazon Prime later this year. (CharlesHutchPress)
Alza Festival, which is run by vets of Tribeca and TikTok, kicks off its first edition with a wealth of content from the buzzy new medium [...]The same is the case for the vertical Wuthering Heights, set on a present-day American ranch, which premieres Sunday. (Max Goldbart)
Oakley’s film is beautiful, too, shot in a naturally diluted light reminiscent of Joe Wright’s 2005 Pride and Prejudice, with its soft skies and washed-out greens. In this respect, it feels more Brontë than Austen. Marianne does have a great deal of Cathy about her. There is a heightened romanticism here that Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights might well envy. (Dora Davies-Evitt)
If Hollywood is the measure, classic novels written by women are all the rage.In the coming months, “House of the Dragon” actor Emma Corrin will star as Lizzie Bennet in a Netflix adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice,” Daisy Edgar-Jones will headline a new “Sense and Sensibility” movie, and Aimee Lou Wood will play the titular character in a television adaptation of “Jane Eyre.” Earlier this year, director Emerald Fennell’s version of “Wuthering Heights” grossed more than $240 million at the box office. [...]Austen, in particular, may be the most widely adapted writer in English after William Shakespeare. Though she and other authors like the Brontë sisters lived relatively short, geographically confined lives, their work has been reimagined across the world, from California to India.“But their minds were so expansive,” [Cristina Richieri Griffin, an assistant professor in the English department at the University of Virginia] said. “I love the idea that their writing planted seeds that eventually sprang into work that didn’t exist for almost 200 years after they were writing their novels.” (Alice Berry)
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Brontë. Live at St. Michael's and All Angels Church, Haworth
Guiem Soldevila, Neus Ferri, Clara Gorrias1. If This Be All (Live)
2. Night (Live)
3. On the Death of Anne Brontë (Live)
4. Fall, Leaves, Fall (Live)
by Jen SilvermanDirected By Edward SobelVillanova Theatre,800 Lancaster Avenue The John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts, Villanova, PA 19085September 24 - October 4, 2026Wildcard Wednesday: September 23Speaker's Series: September 27Drinks with the Dramaturg: October 2On the desolate English moors, two sisters and their maid carefully guard family secrets. When a governess arrives expecting a conventional post, she discovers unwritten rules, shifting alliances, and very real danger. In The Moors, every character aches to be loved, recognized, or feared — and at least one of them is willing to kill for it.At turns humorous, savage, and seductive, Silverman’s dark comedy, steeped in Victorian atmosphere, takes inspiration from the Brontë sisters' celebrated novels to create a world all its own.Come for the gothic intrigue. Stay for the lovestruck dog.
Thu 24 Sept 2:00pm, Brontë Space at the Old School RoomThu 24 Septç 7:30pm (Zoom)Like his siblings, Branwell suffered a series of losses throughout his lifetime, attending the deathbed of his mother, his Aunt and his close friend William Weightman. Branwell drew on these losses as inspiration for his writing, capturing his experiences in both his letters and poetry. This talk will explore these writings, looking at both the inspirations and how Branwell captures his experiences of grief.This month’s Thursday Talk will be delivered by Brontë scholar Rose Gant.
Talks exploring the life and legacy of Branwell Brontë are taking place at the Brontë Parsonage and Brontë Birthplace.The events aim to shed light on the often-overlooked brother of the famous Brontë sisters, who made his mark as both an artist and poet but whose life was ultimately overshadowed by personal struggles.On September 22, the Brontë Birthplace hosted an online talk titled Sibling Rivalry: Unpacking the Art of Branwell Brontë, led by guest speaker Dr Maebh O’Regan.The talk explored Branwell’s artistic output, focusing on his creative process.Branwell’s most well-known work is The Brontë Sisters Portrait, also known as The Pillar Portrait, painted in 1834.Though the piece has received negative criticism, it remains one of the most popular works in the British National Portrait Gallery.Later in the week, the Brontë Parsonage will present an in-person and online talk on September 24, titled Grief and Loss in the Writing of Branwell Brontë.Led by Brontë scholar Rose Gant, the talk will begin at 2pm at the Parsonage, with a Zoom session offered at 7.30pm.A spokesman for the Brontë Parsonage said: "Like his siblings, Branwell suffered a series of losses throughout his lifetime, attending the deathbed of his mother, his aunt and his close friend William Weightman."Branwell drew on these losses as inspiration for his writing, capturing his experiences in both his letters and poetry."This talk will explore these writings, looking at both the inspirations and how Branwell captures his experiences of grief." (Amelia Short)
As bleak as it is beautiful, the windswept landscape of the South Pennines and its surrounding settlements in West Yorkshire fuelled the imagination of the Brontë sisters as they wrote their works in the mid-19th century.“In the hill-country silence, their poetry comes by lines and stanzas into my mind,” wrote Charlotte Brontë, reflecting on the moorland after the deaths of her sisters, Anne and Emily.Yet residents warn the setting that inspired the Brontës could be lost forever to England’s largest onshore wind farm. [...]“It’s not just a local moor,” explains Nick MacKinnon, who lives in the small village of Stanbury. “It’s internationally designated twice, and it’s internationally famous as the Brontë moor. [...]As for the wind farm’s ramifications for tourism, Calderdale Energy Park said: “Our assessment work to date concludes that Top Withens and its Brontë associations would remain intact, with no harm to its heritage significance.”Yet Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, is not convinced.“You can’t separate the Brontës’ work and the influence on them from the landscape itself,” she says. “The two are completely entwined.”Despite having seen visitor numbers increase by 20pc, in part because of the release of Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, Yorke believes the tourism related to the literary heritage would be affected if the project went ahead, given the landscape would be “forever changed”.“Wuthering Heights is full of references to wildlife, particularly birds, such as lapwings and skylarks, which are around today. And there are also several mentions of peat in the novel,” she says“The Brontës themselves were well aware of the nature which made up the moors.”Yorke points to the final line of Wuthering Heights in which Lockwood, seemingly untouched by the turbulence he has witnessed, ponders the “quiet earth” of Brontë country.“If Calderdale Energy Park is not stopped, then the ‘quiet’ of this unique and special place will be shattered by the industrial hum of turbines, and the ‘earth’ replaced by tons of concrete,” she says. (Robert White)
The couple in the song burn with feeling, however let their pride stand between them. Years pass. Only then do the lyrical protagonists see what they’ve lost, and by that point, the door is already closed. What remains is longing that never fades and hunger with nowhere left to go.Amanda Fagan treats this story with lightness, allowing the sadness to come through naturally. “Forever Yearn” is a minor tragedy concerning timing and stubbornness, in that two lives can easily drift apart when neither of the individuals is willing to yield first.The song takes a classic story of ruined passion and turns it into a personal and up-to-date account, one that deals with the cost of delaying too long in saying what is important. (Layla Moore)
She moved on to the Theatre Royal, Horsham, where her roles included Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights (1953), with Michael Caine as her brother Hindley. (Anthony Hayward in The Guardian)
by Anne DaltonForum Theatre Billingham23/09/2026 to 26/09/2026Experience the passion, mystery and romance of Jane Eyre - The Musical, from award-winning writer Anne Dalton, creator of the internationally acclaimed Her Benny — winner of the International Quest for New Musicals.Starring Janet Cowley (The Phantom of the Opera), alongside Peter Brindle (A Christmas Carol), Elena Porter, Megan Hughes and Peter Chapman (Joseph), this sweeping new production brings Charlotte Brontë’s beloved classic thrillingly to life.New to the story or a lifelong fan? Be transported through eerie Yorkshire mists, haunting secrets and soaring emotion in this powerful Gothic musical filled with unforgettable songs, sparkling dialogue and breathtaking drama.Follow Jane from her difficult childhood to the grandeur of Thornfield Hall, where she meets the darkly charismatic Mr Rochester — a man hiding a devastating secret. Intelligent, independent and fiercely determined, Jane proves more than a match for her brooding employer.Will love conquer the shadows of the past?Laugh, cry and be swept away by this truly magical theatrical experience.
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